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NAS backup using NDMP protocol.

  • August 30, 2023
  • 7 comments
  • 1695 views
Andanet
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Hi folks, 

I need to understand a little bit about NAS backup using NDMP protocol. 

I have read this article https://www.veeam.com/blog/nas-data-protection-best-practices.html written by Matt Crape. 

In particular I want discuss about third model

  • Three-way model: In this model, backup data flows from NAS to the backup server, which then sends that data to the backup device. This model requires three-way communication between NAS, the backup server and the backup device. Some advantages of this model are that it allows for better control over the backup process and greater scalability. However, this option may also introduce additional load on your network.

If I understood VBR Server manage backup, after connecting with NAS, and write on a primary repository.  

HAve you experience in this model backup? 

I will try to push the customer to use classic file backup starting from here https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/hyperv/file_share_support.html?ver=120 

But if our client want use NDMP I need have a prompt reply. 

Thanks for your feedback. 

 

Best answer by DChiavari

I can confirm the NAS backup using NDMP currently supports only tape as target, not disk.

I believe Matt’s article was describing the NDMP protocol at a higher level, not the Veeam-specific implementation.

In all honesty, I wouldn’t recommend NDMP for NAS backups with VB&R - not only because it can only write to tape, there are some more limitations and caveats that you / the customer need to consider : https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/ndmp_servers_backup_to_tape.html?ver=120

Antonio D'Andrea | VMCE 2021 | VMCA 2022 | VMTSP2024 | Veeam Legend | VUG Italy Leader | Object First Ace | VCP6-DCV | I want it written on my tombstone "Please start a restore to the last valid backup"
    Chris.Childerhose
    coolsport00
    Madi.Cristil

    7 comments

    Chris.Childerhose
    Forum|alt.badge.img+21
    • Chris.Childerhose
    • Veeam Legend, Veeam Vanguard
    • August 30, 2023

    Don't use a lot of NAS backup but the model referenced would be the one where VBR controls the backup.  Matt is very good with his details in that article.

    Sorry I cannot assist more.

    Chris Childerhose - VMCA2024 | VMCE2023 | VMCE-SP2024 | Veeam Vanguard 8* | Veeam Legend 5* | VUG Canada Leader | vExpert 6* | Toronto VMUG Leader | VCAP-DCV/VCP-DCV | Object First Ace | Cisco Champion | Twitter: @cchilderhose | Blog Site – https://just-virtualization.tech
    BertrandFR
    Link State
    dloseke
    MicoolPaul
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    • MicoolPaul
    • August 30, 2023

    Hi, Veeam only supports NDMP in NAS to tape backup jobs IIRC

     

    Edit: found the link: NDMP Servers - User Guide for Microsoft Hyper-V (veeam.com)

     

    If your NAS device supports the NDMP protocol, you can back up data from it to tape.

    Michael Paul - Opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Veeam | https://micoolpaul.com | Mastodon: @micoolpaul@masto.nu | Bluesky: @micoolpaul.com
    Chris.Childerhose
    BertrandFR
    dloseke
    Chris.Childerhose
    Forum|alt.badge.img+21
    • Chris.Childerhose
    • Veeam Legend, Veeam Vanguard
    • August 30, 2023

    Ah yes forgot about that part that Michael mentions. Good catch 👍

    Chris Childerhose - VMCA2024 | VMCE2023 | VMCE-SP2024 | Veeam Vanguard 8* | Veeam Legend 5* | VUG Canada Leader | vExpert 6* | Toronto VMUG Leader | VCAP-DCV/VCP-DCV | Object First Ace | Cisco Champion | Twitter: @cchilderhose | Blog Site – https://just-virtualization.tech
    dloseke
    Andanet
    Forum|alt.badge.img+11
    • Andanet
    • Author
    • Veeam Legend
    • August 30, 2023

    Ah yes forgot about that part that Michael mentions. Good catch 👍

    yep I know it but the two are at odds with each other. 

    For me Matt article it means I can use a VBR server with a disk repository to backup a NAS using NDMP protocol. 

    I’m trying to use a lab to check this way. 

    Antonio D'Andrea | VMCE 2021 | VMCA 2022 | VMTSP2024 | Veeam Legend | VUG Italy Leader | Object First Ace | VCP6-DCV | I want it written on my tombstone "Please start a restore to the last valid backup"
    Chris.Childerhose
    dloseke
    DChiavari
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    • DChiavari
    • Veeam MVP
    • Answer
    • September 1, 2023

    I can confirm the NAS backup using NDMP currently supports only tape as target, not disk.

    I believe Matt’s article was describing the NDMP protocol at a higher level, not the Veeam-specific implementation.

    In all honesty, I wouldn’t recommend NDMP for NAS backups with VB&R - not only because it can only write to tape, there are some more limitations and caveats that you / the customer need to consider : https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/ndmp_servers_backup_to_tape.html?ver=120

    Danilo Chiavari - Veeam Sr. Presales Manager, Italy - www.danilochiavari.com
    Chris.Childerhose
    Andanet
    dloseke
    dloseke
    Forum|alt.badge.img+8
    • dloseke
    • Veeam Vanguard
    • September 5, 2023

    I can never recommend NDMP.  Now granted, my experience with it was with Dell/EMC Avamar, but it was never a great solution.  It’s a pretty outdated protocol IMO.

    Derek M. Loseke, Senior Systems Engineer | Veeam Vanguard 2025 | Veeam Legend 2022-2024 | VMSP/VMTSP | VCP6-DCV | VSP/VTSP | CCNA | https://technotesanddadjokes.com | @dloseke
    Chris.Childerhose
    BertrandFR
    Andanet
    R
    • Rafael
    • New Here
    • July 23, 2024

    Hello,

    In some specific cases, with really big filesystems with lots of small files and the need of use tapes (not able to use cloud repositories), NDMP is the only functional option.

    Use file to tape with these filesystems leads to very larger  backup times than NDMP and also bloat the Veeam Repository database, the file to tape backups checks and registers every file one by one.

    NDMP uses the backed up volme as only one item despite the number of files on it (this have downsides, the volume must be full restored to recover only one file) and is the storage system itself the responsible for the incremental changes control.

    Finally Veeam supports only Three-way NDMP model, then the limit of throughtput in most cases is the connection between the storage system and the tape server.

    Regards,

    Rafael

     

    Chris.Childerhose
    damien commenge
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